Titus 2:12INTRO: These are important questions because as believers, we are called to live sanctified lives that are fully surrendered to Christ.
We know it’s God’s will for us to live Godly & He’s working in our lives to help us to live Godly. But, we also have a responsibility in this. What we habitually do has tremendous influence on whether we will have a Godly life.
There are seven habits that will help us in our pursuit of Godly living. A habit is a recurring pattern of behavior; it comes through frequent repetition & it’s often subconscious.
A Godly life is one that’s no longer seeking satisfaction through a sinful lifestyle but it’s now surrendered to God and His will.The Six Habits of a Godly Life1. A Life of Prayer. We learn this example from Jesus.
The disciples and the crowds did not understand why Jesus withdrew when there was so much good He could do. Jesus knew that prayer was an important priority of His life:
Mark 1:35
Prayer that promotes godliness is not merely occasional prayers offered in times of trouble or need; they are a daily conversation with the Father that comes from our love for Him and gratitude for who He is and what He does. It’s not a duty but a delightful time.
Jesus’ disciples saw that His prayers were very different from the ritualistic prayers that were so common in that day.
They saw & heard how He spoke so personally with His heavenly Father. This prompted them to ask Him to teach them how to pray: Luke 11:1.
Because we live in a world filled with temptations, trials, heartaches, burdens, and sin: an intimate prayer life should be a priority because it keeps us connected to almighty God and makes us sensitive to His will.
Whatever we do will be accomplished on our knees as we submit to the Lord, give Him our time, and listen for His instruction.2. Faith. Psalm 103:19: God controls everything, not only what happens but why and how it happens as well. His sovereignty is our firm foundation for believing and trusting Him.
Proverbs 3:5-6
The only other option to faith is worry. A Godly life is one that steps beyond worry and into trust. Each time a situation causes us to fret, we should stop and remember who’s in charge. If God’s sovereignty rules over all, we have no reason to worry. The evidence of our faith is the absence of worry.
Trust in the Lord also builds a closeness with Him. As we talk and listen to God and respond in obedience, He guides us, and we develop closeness with Him both in our heart and in our thinking.3. Obedience. Moses told the nation of Israel: Deut. 28:1.
In a similar way, we walk on a higher level than the world when we live in obedience to God. It’s not a matter of looking down on others but choosing to live by God’s standards rather than following the world’s lifestyle.4. Dependence upon the Holy Spirit. Every believer in Jesus is indwelt by the Holy Spirit, but the apostle Paul also tells us to “be filled with the Spirit” Eph. 5:18. The Greek verb signifies that this is a continuous action of filling. It means to live in obedience to Him, relying on Him to equip, empower, strengthen, teach, and guide us each day.
Only as we depend on the Spirit will we be and do what God desires.5. Giving to God and others. We have a promise in Luke 6:38:
We can never out give God. But by not giving, we are claiming that we really don’t need Him & we can manage on our own.
Only God can predict and provide for our future needs.

6. Forgiving other people. Forgiveness may not be easy, but it’s what the Lord commands (Eph. 4:32).
Even if someone betrays us, we must forgive and trust God to take care of the situation.What changes would you have to make to cultivate these six Godly habits?Which areas are the most challenging for you? What obstacles will you need to overcome?

I. They Think Prayerfully
A. Vs 9: sailing was dangerous
1. Vs 10: much damage & hurt ahead – lives at steak
2. Vs 14: tempestuous wind = hurricane like conditions
3. Vs 18: tossed with a tempest
B. Paul saw the storm coming
C. A storm doesn’t last forever
1. Life has its storms; they can get us doubting; afraid;
and sometimes wondering “where is God?”
2. I believe Paul went into this storm prayerfully.
That’s the way we, too, should approach life’s storms .
Whether a storm of bad weather or a storm / a crisis in our
lives
D. Notice vs 11: the centurion would not believe the man of God
Paul
1. Sometimes, in haste, people disregard the council of God’s
man
2. They go around and tell their problems to many folks and
then settle on the advice from someone who has told them
what they wanted to hear.
II. They Have A Childlike Faith
A. Vs 21- 25 (read)
B. Mark 10:14 – this is a simple faith that does not doubt.
1. Faith to believe what the Bible says
2. Faith to act upon what the Bible says
3. Whether it is faith to be saved or faith to live our daily lives
for Him
III. They Have Optimism Based On The Word Of God
A. Yes, there is a hell; but, yes, there is also salvation to take us
to heaven
B. There is a negative and a positive
C. Vs 22: (be of good cheer)
1. In the midst of life’s storms, you can have that same little
childlike faith to believe in the Word of God.
2. You can be of good cheer because of no loss: vs 22
a. Here, no loss of life: we can thank God for His hand of
protection on our lives
b. Also, no loss of eternal life.
God saves and He keeps us saved
D. They have mastered their own lives: Proverbs 16:32
(he that ruleth his spirit)
1. Life is a give and take relationship; things don’t always go
your way
2. They take life’s storms (problems) as they arise; they don’t
fall apart during the storm
3. Be realistic about the future: no pie in the sky stuff
4. Paul had a grip on himself and he had self-respect.

Conclusion: The way to keep your head in a crises is to be close to the Bible; close to God. Faith in God and in His Word. Don’t follow after every newfangled thing that comes along in the world of religion. Be saved and know it for sure. Stick to the basics of God’s Word and have that childlike faith – it will get you through life a lot better.

Introduction: Like Haggai, Zechariah was a prophet to the Jewish remnant that returned after the 70 year exile.Much of Zechariah is to be interpreted in light of related prophecy.This Book is surpassed in prophecies of Christ only by the Book of Isaiah.

The man and the Book: The name Zechariah means: remembered of the Lord.

His work began approximately 2 months after Haggai’s and their works parallel each other. Most of this Book is made up of eight (8) visions encouraging the rebuilding of the Temple and four (4) visions of the Messianic Kingdom.

NOTES: God will always find men to do his work – there were horns to be cut off. Here are the carpenters or artificers; God will always find the right sort of men. God choose men of ability to empower them to do His will and to defeat the enemy..

God will always find enough men to do His work and His will. There were four horns, so are there four smiths to beat them to pieces.Empires which have opposed the Lord have been crushed to powder, it always be so. No power can stand against the Lord of Hosts.

III. The Man With The Measuring Line – Chap. 2

A. The City of Jerusalem shall be (future tense) restored and made bigger or enlarged: 2:2-5

B. Those Jews exiled will return to the Land: 2:6-7

C. Jehovah God will protect His people and He will make their enemies a “spoil:” 2:8-9

D. Many nations will be converted or joined to the Lord: 2:10-13

E. Man with a measuring line: 2:1

1.He is also represented in Ezekiel 40:3

2. He is found in Revelation 21:15 & Ezekiel 41:1-26

3. There are several other Scriptures which represent this … The Man is none other than

God Himself. The Jews are, here, encouraged to go forward with the building of the

Temple and they are also encouraged for future restoration.

V. Visions Four Through Eight

A. Four: Joshua, the High Priest and satan- chap. 3

1. This pictures the removing of iniquity and the future glory of Israel

2. When we stand before God, to serve Him, or stand up for God, we must expect to

meet all the resistance satan’s subtlety and malice can give to us

3. Vs 3: filthy garments = their removal is symbolic of the removing of iniquity from

Joshua … representing his people.

B. Five: The golden candlestick and thetwo olive trees -chap. 4

1. Vs 2: candlestick is light = Israel was to send forth the light of the Gospel;

the Temple was to be rebuilt – vs 9 – so that the Word of Godcould be sent forth as a

light shining in a world full of the darkness of sin.

2. Vs 11-14: reference to Revelation 11:3-4

C. Six: The Flying roll; 5:1-4

1. This represents the Word of God that judges

2. Vs 2: 30’ X 14’

3. Vs 4: The Word of God goes against sin and wickedness

D. Seven: the “epah” vs 6, was the old time Jewish symbol for trade and the woman,

commerce of the remnant that had returned. The two women, more specifically, are

sent to carry away the corrupt woman.

2. Vs 9: Stork = an unclean bird

E. Eight: The Four War Chariots; chap. 6:1-8

1. The judgment of the Lord upon the nations

2. Vs 9-15: Joshua is crowned as a type of Christ … the immediate meaning ofthat is

simply: Jehovah God, as He sends forth His chariot judgment on the Gentile powers that

surrounded Israel, has returned with mercies and gracious promises to His remaining

people.

3. Vs 1: four chariots represent swift coming, Divine judgment

4. Four angels driving the chariots are… vs 5, the four spirits of the heavens.

NOTES: The underlying idea that runs throughout this prophecy is summed up in chapter 1:14-16. This Book takes us to the immediate need of God’s people to the ultimate fulfillment at Christ’s second Coming. We also can realize why these passages are relating to the future is that when the Messiah came and offered Himself to His people, Israel, they rejected Him and crucified Him.

The Human Writer: Habakkuk prophesied during the later years of King Josiah. He also lived during the time of Jeremiah. The name Habakkuk means: “embracing.”

Habakkuk speaks to God concerning Habakkuk’s concerns about God’s working among the nations. Habakkuk 1:4; 1:13 = why do the wicked prosper?

The Central Message of the book: Chapter 2:4b “… but the just shall live by his faith.”

Background: The Assyrian Empire had fallen as Nahum had prophesied: Egypt and Babylon were trying to dominate the world. The Babylonians and Chaldeans were united together under King Nebuchadnezzar and would conquer Judah.

Habakkuk could not understand why a nation like Babylon, with all its wickedness, could conquer a nation like Judah. After all, Judah’s sins were not as bad as Babylon’s sins.

This seemed like evil was wining out over good. So, God shows Habakkuk His plan.

Brief outline of this Book

I.The Burden – Chap. 1 The apparent triumph of s

II.The Vision – Chap. 2

Coming punishment of the Chaldeans

III.The Prayer – Chap. 3

Confidence that God is coming

I.The Burden

A. Chap. 1:1: he saw

1. Vs 2: he cried

2. Vs 2: he did not believe that God heard his cry of prayer

3. Vs 2: why does not God save?

B. He wonders why the wicked prosper?

1. The Chaldeans are bitter and nasty: Vs 6 – 7

2. Vs 9: they come for violence.

II.The Vision

A. Chap. 2:4: “… the just shall live by his faith.”

This verse is quoted 3 X’s in the New Testament

B. Chap. 2:14: The earth filled with God’s glory

C. Chap. 2:20: The Lord … in His Holy Temple: Psalm 11:4

III. The Prayer

A. Chap. 3:2: Revive Thy work

B. We find Habakkuk praising God, who will always work things out for His glory and

honor. Our part, take time to talk to Him in prayer; study His Word; wait patiently for

Him.

Five Woe’s In The Book Of Habakkuk

1. A Woe against aggression: 2:5-8.

This speaks of the doom, some think, of Nebuchadnezzar, who was principally active in the

destruction of Jerusalem

2. A Woe against covetousness 2:8-11

3. A Woe against violence: 2:12-14. Vs 14 is from Isaiah 11:9.

Vs 13, all the Babylonian cities will be burnt down: Jeremiah 51:58.

God defeats the enemy and in vs 14, the Word of God is spread.

4. A Woe against drinking and inhumanity: 2:15-17.

A 2 fold teaching here:

1. The king of Babylon was drunken with covetousness and cruelty. He provoked others to

do the same, and inflamed them by his madness, and so in the end brought them to shame.

2. Drinking alcohol can produce drunkenness.

Drunkenness produces stupid actions: Proverbs 23:29-33.

Vs 30: “mixed wine” = mixing wine with other ingredients to make it stronger.

It usually takes 3-7 days to ferment

Vs 31: “red’ = fermented.

5. A Woe against idolatry: 2:18-20

Basic lesson from this Book: We can rejoice and we should rejoice in spite of our unpleasant circumstances. Give your burdens to the Lord and wait on Him for a solution to your problems.

Realize, what we consider as our “problems” are really an opportunity for God to show His power in our lives.

It would be good for you to read Chapter 4 of the book of Philippians as a help to this.

God can take what we consider “problems” and use it for His honor, glory and His good.

sparks from the stones over which they pass(pt 1 & 2quote from Jamieson – Fausset

Brown)

III. The Cause Of Nineveh’sRuin

A. The sins of that great city are

1. Murder3:1

2. Whoredom and witchcraft:3:4

3. Wickedness:3:19

B. God’s judgment: Vs 5

1. He will expose their sin

2. It was an ancient custom to strip prostitutes naked, or throw their clothes over their

heads and expose them to public view

3. Nineveh will be stripped of her glory and defenses: the things that the city had pride in

C. Nineveh’s future: 3:19

1. No healing of thy bruise = the city will never be rebuilt

2. Shall clap the hands = rejoice in your down fall

3. bruit of thee = the report of what’s happened to Nineveh

Forhundreds of years, most scholars thought that the City ofNineveh was a myth. In 1845, the ruins of Nineveh were found. The mounds across from the Tigris river from Mosul was confirmed to be the ruins of Nineveh.

This Book also teaches that: Even though the ungodly will prosper for a time – God’s judgment will come and God will deliver His people.

Isaiah was a learned man and ministered to the upper classes while Micah ministered more to the lower classes from which he came.

The Book: It was written during the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.

It shows judgment for idolatry. This Book followed the lead of most of the prophets and spoke of the ultimate triumph of God’s grace and the fulfillment of God’s covenant promise to the faithful remnant.

Date: 750 – 710 B.C.

This Book contributed to the revival under King Hezekiah: (Jeremiah 26:18-19).

NOTE: chapter 1:2 “Hear” 3:1 “Hear” – 6:1 “Hear”

Brief Outline Of The Book

I.ComingJudgment Declared – chaps 1-3

II.Future Blessing Promised – chaps 4-5

III.Repentance Pleaded – chaps 6-7

Note: Micah Chapter 7; the prophet pleads for repentance: what was their sin?

Micah 7:1-2: “… they lie in wait for blood …” = ambush – they have a plot;

“… they hunt every brother with a net.” = They set a trap for a brother

Introduction: We have no history regarding Obadiah – not even his father’s name. We find more than a dozen other Obadiah’s in the Bible, but none are identified with this one.He is a man of obscurity that was used of God to pronounce one thing: God’s judgment on Edom and final restoration of Judah under God’s Kingdom.

The name Obadiah means – Servant of Jehovah.

The Book: It is the shortest writing of the prophets and the smallest Book of the Old Testament. It’s primary concern is with God’s judgment upon Edom for their alliance with Babylon against their own kin: Israel. Then, the plundering and destruction of Jerusalem, by Babylon.

Date: An exact date is not found. We can speculate that it was written around 887 B.C.

Edom: During Obadiah’s time, the capitol was Petra … the Rock City.

I.The Day Of The Lord Is Near

A.Every eye shall see Him: Rev. 1:7

B.He comes as a thief: II Peter 3:10-12

C.Paul looked for it: Phil. 3:20

D.We are to wait for His coming: I Thess. 1:10

E.No man knows when He will return: Matt. 24:36

II. Rewards When He Returns: Obadiah 1:15

A. Galatians 6:7: Reap what you sow

B. Rev. 22:12: He brings rewards

C. I Cor. 3:14-15: Rewards can also be taken away from us

1. Build a work for Christ that will last

2. Our works will be tested by the refiner’s fire: I Peter 1:7

Even though Obadiah looked for the second Coming; Paul looked for it; the early Christians looked for it; you and I should look for the Second Coming. We must remember; God is on HIS time table and not ours.

God, in His wisdom and timing, still has a work to do; a work for you and me to do.

God must be waiting for something, what it is, we don’t know and it is not for us to know or we’d know it.

Genesis 7:4 & 10: for some reason, God gave 7 more days of Grace before He flooded the earth.

Today, He is still a God of Grace. God patiently waits for souls to receive Christ as Saviour.

He patiently waits for Christians to do a work for God, to live for Jesus, to win souls.

But …. He is Coming: Mark 13:32-33

Vs 2-3: God made them small, vs 2, because of their sinful pride: vs 3

Vs 2: they are despised, scorned, contemptible.

Vs 3:They deceived themselves by their own sinful pride

They dwelt in the clefts of the rocks … Petra … the capitol city was a Rock City.

Their houses were mostly cut into the rocks.

Vs 4: Pride MUST be brought down. No matter how high they tried to exalt themselves…

God WILL bring them down

Vs 5: The enemies of Edom have ravaged them more than thieves and robbers would have

Vs 6: Even the things that they hid in caves etc. were found and ravaged: I Corinthians 4:5

Vs 7: Brought to their border = they were hemmed in, on every side, by their enemies.

“They that eat thy bread” = they pretended to be their friends but in all reality: they

joined together to destroy them.

“laid a wound” = laid a trap or placed a snare.

“none understanding” = they we so foolish – they could not see their danger

Vs 8: The Edomite’s were remarkable for wisdom, counsel, and prudence.

When God purposes to destroy a nation for its sins, He commonly removes from it the

wise and prudent, and gives it over to weak and foolish counsels:Jeremiah 49:7.

Vs 9: The wise men will be destroyed by a violent death

NOTE: The problem here – is the sinful pride of Edom. In verses 1-16, we read of the destruction of Edom because of their sin.Proverbs 6:16-20 – Proverbs 8:13

Arrogancy means “swelling.” Or like “he has the big head.”

Verses 17-21: We read of the salvation of Israel.

Vs 17: Deliverance: Psalms 2:6

Holiness = they shall return to God and separate themselves from idols

The promise of God – in the Palestinian Covenant – to take what God has rightfully given

to Israel.

Vs 18: Isaiah 10:17: God’s power to consume his enemies properly belongs only to himself.

As a people and a nation, they shall be destroyed. It does not refer to every individual.

Vs 19 – 21: Obadiah ends his prophecy with a promise of the restoration of Israel and the